Bulldog Price Guide (Puppies & Adults) & Ownership Costs

The comical, charming Bulldog’s original purpose was to push cattle along to market and to bait bulls for sport. Long disassociated from their original roles, today’s Bulldogs make for loving family companions who are especially tolerant and friendly towards children. Requiring very little daily exercise, the Bulldog is an excellent choice for first time dog owners, excelling in nearly any living situation including apartment life. The Bulldog is well renowned for its devotedness, eagerly lavishing its affection on each member of its family as often as possible.

Interested in adding a Bulldog to your family? Read on to learn more about how much you can expect to pay for your new canine pal.

How Much is a Bulldog Puppy? $2000-$15000+

If you feel the Bulldog is the only breed for you and your family, it’s a good idea to start doing some research as to what kind of price you will pay to purchase your new canine pal. A very quick Google search will reveal that there is quite a range of prices when it comes to Bulldog puppies. If you commit to purchasing your pup from a reputable breeder of Bulldogs, you will most likely pay a higher price than if you obtained your dog elsewhere. Still, the additional cost paid up front may end up being the best money you have ever spent.

Though dog breeding is a worldwide industry; at present, it is not regulated by any governing board in the United States. Because of this, puppy prices are set by each individual breeder. As a result, prices will vary greatly within the same breed with many different factors playing a role in the final cost you will pay for your puppy.

How do breeders decide how much to charge for their puppies?

There are many different components that determine a breeder’s decision as to an appropriate price to charge for their Bulldog puppies. Though price is not necessarily an indication of the quality of a dog, it is important to note that as with most things in life; you do often get what you pay for. Being wary of purchasing a bargain-priced puppy is quite wise.  Puppies available for a low price may cost you less at first but may cost far more down the road, particularly in a breed like Bulldogs that can be fraught with many serious health problems.

When you purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder, you are buying a pup that has been given the best foundation in life. Reputable breeders raise each of their puppies with love and are committed to providing the appropriate care, nutrition, and socialization during your pup’s critical first weeks of life to help establish a personality that sees the world as an exciting place to explore instead of something to be feared. Because of this significant investment of time, money, and resources, the price a breeder settles on for their puppies will be higher.

The price a breeder sets for their puppies is determined by the level of investment they have made in their breed, their own dogs, and their puppies. Factors that may play a role in this final number are things like appropriate health testing for both of the parent dogs, stud fees for the sire’s service, pre- and post-natal care for the mother dog, and the expenses involved in whelping and raising a litter well.

Reputable breeds place a very high emphasis on producing puppies that are excellent representatives of their breed’s standard. A breed standard is a written document indicating what the ideal Bulldog should look and act like. To achieve this goal, a breeder must scrupulously adhere to correct conformational traits in the parents of their future litters as well as the right temperament and optimal health and wellness. By being faithful to these characteristics, the breed is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The American Kennel Club’s 5th most popular breed for 2020, the Bulldog is gentle, loving, and immensely comical, all traits that make it a great choice for families, and especially, families with children. With its low activity requirements and easy adaptability to nearly any lifestyle, the Bulldog is the ideal companion for those looking for a loyal canine pal to lay with them on the couch, go for car rides, and even to take leisurely strolls around the neighborhood. A favorite in the conformation ring, the Bulldog is well-suited to life as a show dog. A popular dog type today, some less than scrupulous breeders may take advantage of the high demand for this breed and overbreed and inflate their puppy prices to maximize their profit.

Reputable breeders do not change their breeding plans because interest in their breed has increased. They also do not typically revise their pricing simply because their breed is now considered to be popular. Most reputable breeders only increase their prices when their expenses to breed, whelp, and properly raise a litter rise so substantially that their current pricing becomes financially untenable.

There is quite a diverse range of prices when it comes to the purchase of a Bulldog puppy in the United States. As an average, you may be very fortunate to find a pet quality pup available for as low as $2000; however, much higher pricing is most typically seen for this breed. Some breeders charge $15,000 or more for pet quality Bulldog puppies with show quality pups at the high end of this range, and sometimes, even more expensive than their pet counterparts.

It is important to note that whether you purchase a Bulldog puppy for pet or for performance or show, each puppy is equally as special. They simply have different roles to fulfill in their lives with their new families.

However, there are many more expenses to consider than simply the initial purchase price of your Bulldog. Other costs you will need to keep in mind for the future include veterinary care, vaccinations, training, grooming, food, toys, and much, much more.

How Much Does a Bulldog Cost? $2000-$15000+

Obtaining a Bulldog puppy will cost more money than what you would pay to purchase an adult, retired breeding or show dog, or a senior. Bulldog puppies are one of the most expensive dog breeds available for purchase today. You will notice that the diversity in pricing for this breed is even larger than what you would find with other dog types such as Beagles, Poodles, and even French Bulldogs. Location may be one of the key factors in the purchase price each breeder requests.

If you are very lucky, you may find a Bulldog puppy/adult or even a Bulldog mix available for adoption at a shelter or rescue. Rescuing a Bulldog or Bulldog mix offers you some great advantages. Puppies and adults from shelters or rescues will already be fully vaccinated and are also often already housetrained, an added bonus for you. Adoption rates are typically considerably lower than the purchase price of a Bulldog pup from a reputable breeder, making this a more affordable option for some families.

Many states also have breed specific rescues whose primary purpose is to help surrendered Bulldogs find their ideal families.

Companion Bulldog Puppies=$2000-$15000

$2000 is the lowest price Bulldog puppies are available for today. However, it is important to note that finding a Bulldog pup in this price range is extremely rare. Most often, you can expect to pay between $4500 and $15000 or more to add a Bulldog puppy to your family.

Show Potential Bulldog Puppies=$5000+

Many breeders are willing to part with show potential puppies between 8 and 16 weeks of age. Because Bulldog puppies still have much developing to do over the next year, these pups are often sold as show potential as an acknowledgement that the puppy appears to be show quality now but may not develop as expected, and thus, may be unsuited to life as a show dog when fully mature. Most often, when you purchase a puppy as show potential, you will be required to sign a contract that indicates what must happen if the puppy does not turn out as expected. This usually involves the return of the puppy to the breeder for a refund or a replacement, and the breeder is then able to rehome the pup to a suitable forever pet home.

Why is there a price difference between show and pet quality puppies?

The primary purpose of showing dogs is the evaluation of breeding stock. This means that every time a puppy carrying a breeder’s kennel name walks into a ring with its owner, that breeder’s line and breeding program is being assessed. Because of this, the breeder must be prepared to sell you one of the best puppies he or she produces in any given litter. These evaluations are very helpful for a breeder, providing feedback as to things they are doing well and areas where they can improve in future generations.

By selling you a puppy worthy of being shown and possibly bred in the future, this eliminates their ability to use this pup in their breeding program going forward. This privilege in itself means you will pay a higher price tag. It is an investment in you on the part of the breeder. If you are a first time owner of a show dog, your breeder will also need to invest time and resources into mentoring you, helping you to learn everything you need to know to be successful in the show ring.

If you wish to purchase a Bulldog puppy to show, you can expect to pay approximately $5,000, and most often considerably more, for this privilege.

Guaranteed Show Quality Bulldogs (Older Puppies and Young Adults)=$15000+

In rare cases, you may be able to find a breeder that is willing to sell you a dog that is guaranteed to be show quality. If you are fortunate enough to find someone who will do this for you, you can expect to pay a very high price for this opportunity, typically $15000 or more.

In order to guarantee your Bulldog is show quality, they must first wait until the dog reaches full maturity and has the required conformation and personality for the breed to have a successful show career. Among the things your breeder will look for during this time are a correct bite and that both testicles are fully descended in a male. Other characteristics your breeder will want to observe are whether or not the dog develops any disqualifying or distracting faults that many hamper any future wins as a show dog.

When asking a breeder to sell you a Bulldog that is guaranteed to be show quality, you are requesting a great investment of trust on their behalf. You are asking them to part with one of the very best specimens they have ever produced. To be worthy of this commitment, many breeders will only sell the dog on a co-ownership. Co-ownerships can be mutually beneficial agreements, but if you choose to enter into one, it is very important that you have a contract in place that stipulates what each party will do and what will happen if anyone defaults on their portion of the agreement.

Retired Adult Bulldogs=$350-$1000

When a dog is ready for retirement from breeding, performance, or showing, their breeder may decide to place the dog in a loving forever family. The price for a retired adult Bulldog may be the same as what you would pay for a pet Bulldog. However, some breeders prefer to offer the dog to pet homes for the cost of the dog’s spay or neuter which is typically around $350 to $1000.

Rescue or Shelter Puppies and Adults=$50-$1000

Sometimes, a Bulldog or Bulldog mix will end up in rescue or at a local shelter.

When this occurs, you can expect to pay $50-$750 for adult dogs. Puppies are most often available for $750-$1000.

Senior Bulldogs (7+)=$350-$500

Unfortunately, Bulldogs can be plagued by health problems. Because of this, their life expectancy is shorter than some breeds. 7 is the age veterinarians consider a Bulldog to be a senior dog.

Adopting a senior Bulldog carries its positives and negatives. On the positive side, you gain a friend that is already trained and that is lower on the energy spectrum and ready to enjoy the good life with you. But the negative side is that the senior Bulldog does not have many remaining years left, a fact that will be very hard on your heart.

The average price you will pay for a senior Bulldog is $350 to $550.

Service Dogs= Not recommended for this breed

The Bulldog is loving and affectionate but is not particularly well suited to life as a service or therapy dog.

Should I Get a Male or a Female Bulldog?

Deciding whether to purchase a male or a female Bulldog is often simply a matter of personal preference. However, there are definite differences between the two genders that may sway the difference for you. Male Bulldogs may express more aggressive trait. To prevent this, they should be socialized from an early age.

Some owners indicate that male Bulldogs take longer to warm up to other household pets, but they are more openly cuddly and affectionate with people including children and strangers. The male Bulldog is extremely playful and enjoys games such as tug of war.

Male Bulldogs are known to be better training companions because of their desire to please people. For best results, the male Bulldog should be trained using treats and praise.

By comparison, female Bulldogs don’t differ dramatically from their male counterparts. Females are equally as sociable and enjoy spending time with their family members and friends. However, females are known to stake a claim on their territory and may attempt to chase anything that comes near it. They enjoy the company of other household pets and require little introduction time to come to accept them as part of the family.

Why Purchase a Purebred Bulldog?

There are a lot of reasons why you should give some consideration to purchasing a purebred Bulldog puppy from a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders place a high emphasis on producing puppies that have sound temperaments, proper structure, and most important, are healthy and well-suited to life as beloved family pets. Many prioritize the health of their adult dogs and offspring so highly that they provide health guarantees, offering you peace of mind that your puppy’s parents are properly health tested to ensure the future health not only of your pup but also of the breed.

The purchase price for your Bulldog pop offers you a lifelong relationship with your breed, a vital support system for you and your puppy for the future. From this relationship you gain valuable assurances of lifetime support, a commitment to ethical breeding practices, optimal puppy raising conditions, and an investment in whelping and raising each puppy they produce to be healthy, well-adjusted canine members of society.

Reputable breeders make it their highest mission to reach towards producing puppies that are excellent representatives of the breed standard. By doing this, breeders ensure that their breed contains to look, act, and function as it should, preserving this type of dog for generations to come. As a breeder strives towards this goal, their puppies will improve with each subsequent breeding, becoming more and more alike the standard in appearance and personality. This emphasis is important to help preserve the breed’s integrity and unique qualities as well as to ensure ongoing health and the avoidance of health issues related to structure that could result in illness or injury.

Sadly, all breeds are naturally prone to developing certain health conditions. Thankfully, there are pre-screening breeding tests available today that can evaluate a dog’s genetic material and physical health to determine suitability for use in a breeding program. These tests greatly reduce the chances of passing on heritable health problems to the offspring of any breeding pair.

The list of recommended tests for the Bulldog are listed on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website. Another excellent resource for those considering purchasing a Bulldog is The Bulldog Club of America. A passing score on the health tests recommended for the Bulldog gives a vote of confidence that that particular dog can safely be used for breeding. Once the testing is completed, many breeders opt to list their dogs’ results on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website, a public database.

Bulldog puppies borne to parents that are both already AKC registered are eligible for registration with the American Kennel Club. It is not required that you register your puppy with this kennel club; however, there are so benefits to you if you choose to do so. Among the programs AKC offers as perks to the owners of registered puppies are microchip tracking programs like AKC Reunite as well as discounts and promotions on products and services including pet insurance.

Does Location Make a Difference When It Comes to Price?

Location will have an impact on the final price you pay to obtain your Bulldog puppy. Bulldogs are a fairly popular breed with kennels listed in nearly every state in the country. States that have a large number of breeders most often charge less for their puppies than areas where there very few pups bred and available for purchase.

Another factor that can impact the cost of a puppy are the expenses the breeder must pay to breed, whelp, and raise the litter. Though some costs are standardized such as microchips and AKC registration, other fees are set by the city and state the breeder lives in. This means that a breeder in Hawaii may pay significantly more money for things such as vaccinations, microchip insertion, puppy food, veterinary care, health certificates, whelping expenses, and prenatal care than a breeder that lives in New York.

A final consideration when it comes to the price for your Bulldog puppy is the fact that the breed is predisposed to a lot of health issues. Appropriate health testing of the parent dogs is expensive, and that cost will often be reflected in the price you pay for your pup. In addition to this, since Bulldogs often do not reproduce naturally and typically require scheduled c-sections to deliver their puppies, there are high costs involved in breeding and whelping a litter of pups of this breed.

Bulldog Price List by Location (US State)

Virginia	$4000-$4900
Montana	$2500-$3000
Massachusetts	$4,500
Kansas	$5000-$15000
Pennsylvania	$2500-$3500
Michigan	$2800-$10000
New York	$3000-$5000
Ohio	$5500-$8500
Indiana	$4000-$5000
Florida	$3000-$6500
Texas	$4000-$6500
Georgia	$3500-$4000
North Carolina	$4000-$4500
Oregon	$3500-$4500
Washington	$3000-$6000
Alabama	$3000-$5000
California	$5000-$6500

Interesting Facts About Bulldog Prices

Most expensive variations	Tri colored (unrecognized color)
Rarest	Merle (unrecognized color)
Most popular color	Brindle

Bulldog Ownership Costs

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to spend per month for these items for a Bulldog:

Dog food (kibble)	$150
Dog food (raw)	$150
Dog treats and chews	$50
Toys	$50
Grooming	$100
Vet	$0-$200
Health insurance	$50-$75

The price you pay for your Bulldog puppy is only a small expense compared to the costs you will face throughout the life of your dog. Since Bulldog live from 8 to 10 years, you will have many years of fun, and many bills to pay, in your future.

Here is an approximate breakdown of what you can expect to pay for your dog:

Puppy supplies=$650+

Puppy supplies is a term that refers to such items as training treats, a leash and collar, a crate, pee pads, and toys.

Puppy vaccinations=$250

The two sets of vaccinations remaining in your pup’s puppy series plus an additional two dewormings will cost you approximately $250.

Puppy training=$100-$600+

Puppy socialization and manners classes range in price from $25 to $100 per class and are taught in blocks of 4-6 weeks.

Ongoing adult training/dog sports=$500-$2500+

From dog performance sports to conformation, scent work, tracking, and more, the sky’s the limit when it comes to fun things to do with your dog. As an average, you will pay from $500-$2500+ per year for additional training and/or participation in dog sports.

Veterinary fees=$100-200+ annually

An annual health exam is a must for every dog. This number should be increased to twice yearly during the senior years.

Because accidents and illnesses can occur, it is wise to budget an additional $3000-$5000 for emergency vet care.

Insurance=$50-$75 per month

The average pet insurance policy costs approximately $50-$75 per month. Over a lifespan of 10 years, that total comes to $9,000. Bear in mind that your premiums may increase as your dog ages. Also, most insurance plans also have deductibles which must first be satisfied before you receive any refunds for monies paid out for veterinary care.

Food=$150+ per month

A dog food suited to the needs of the Bulldog will cost between $100-$150 each month.

Grooming=$100

A dog breed that sheds moderately, the Bulldog has low grooming requirements. A brush with a firm bristled brush several times a week, a bath on an as needed basis, and keeping the facial folds clean and dry are all your Bulldog will require to look and feel its best. The tools required for these jobs should cost around $100.

What to Know Before Buying a Bulldog

The final thing to keep in mind before committing to purchase a Bulldog is the health issues that can plague this sweet, happy breed.

Among the health problems that can plague the Bulldog are:

• Cherry eye
• Dry eye
• Entropion
• Inverted or reverse sneezing
• Brachycephalic syndrome
• Head shakes
• Demodectic mange
• Hip dysplasia
• Tail problems
• Patellar luxation

Summary

Got your heart set on adding a Bulldog to your family? There’s no time like the present to start researching the best place to obtain your new canine pal.

Whether you choose to purchase your dog from a reputable breeder, a rescue, or shelter, it’s important to note that prices can vary quite widely. As an average, you can expect to pay $2000 to $15000+ for a puppy and $50 to $1000 for a rescue.